iPhones for $2,000.
Trump had a disaster on his hands.
Democrats underestimate Trump's political acumen. He may be erratic, sociopathic, narcissistic, and autocratic -- and he most certainly is all of that -- but he has good political instincts. He knows what is popular with MAGA. His lack of convictions serves him well.
He cancelled the tariff on electronics made in China.
His on-again, off-again tariff plans are roiling the markets. U.S. Treasury bonds reflected a world-wide distrust of the U.S. Doesn't that make him look like an inconsistent buffoon? To the world, yes, and to Democrats, most certainly yes, but not to his MAGA base. Conservative media give MAGA constant affirmation that Trump is a genius, a master negotiator.
Trump could see was that soon iPhones would be selling for three times their current price. The effect of the tariff on American consumers would be in our faces. Apple stores might split out the cost of the tariff, to show that it isn't them gouging prices. Imagine the sales receipt: iPhone: $699. Tariff: $1200. AppleCare: $100. Total: $1,999.
Americans have been taught that China is an unfair trading partner. We aren't exactly sure how they do it, other than the fact that their factory workers work for a quarter of the wage that would allow an American to live. Trump knows that sabre-rattling against China is popular, at least when it looks like the U.S. is somehow punishing China. But this would be different. A $2,000 iPhone is punitive against us.
Americans like their smart phones.
I will repeat in this "easy Sunday" post that Trump won't be stopped by Democrats nor the judiciary. He won't be stopped by doing outrageous things contrary to American law and values. Americans have demonstrated that they do not care very much about the rule of law. They take its benefits for granted. Americans want what they want. We like cheap stuff. Trump will be stopped when he does something unpopular.
Trump understands that, so he eliminated the tariffs on electronics.
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7 comments:
I normally agree with most of your points Peter, but “ Americans have demonstrated that they care very much about the rule of law”? Are you kidding? Was that a mistype? If they did, they would not have chosen someone whose BRAND is how much contempt he has for it. And enough Americans voted for him to empower him to do what he wants. And he’s doing it with. No, a “plurality” of Americans (as we like to call his voters) bought into his message of faux patriotism and self interest. “Rule of law”? As Peter C said…. Fuhgeddaboudit.
You are absolutely right. I left out the DO NOT. Typo. Now fixed.
Thanks. Since his criminality is common knowledge and a matter of public record, I was going to ask what he's doing in the White House instead of in prison where he belongs.
Who needs a $2,000 I-Phone? I use a $100 flip-phone, and it works just fine. Does the rule of law mean that Biden didn't forgive student loans because the Supreme Court ruled it was illegal?
I use a clay tablet and stylus. My life is very quiet…
President Trump settled the debate over the tariffs on iPhones and other Chinese-made devices — saying that there is no “exemption” and that new duties are coming.
“NOBODY is getting ‘off the hook,'” Trump said on Truth Social Sunday. “There was no Tariff ‘exception’ announced on Friday. These products are subject to the existing 20% Fentanyl Tariffs, and they are just moving to a different Tariff ‘bucket.’”
“We are taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations.”
“Settled the debate”? Surely you jest. The only debate is guessing what he might do or say next. His endlessly capacity for generating random thoughts is the only thing that’s “settled”; except perhaps his obvious capacity for self-enrichment by having his thumb on the scales of global economies. For now that is.
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